European businesses fear US tech kill switch amid rising tensions

A new Proton study reveals that nearly 75 percent of European businesses fear a potential US tech kill switch as much as a ransomware attack, highlighting how geopolitical tensions have become an operational risk. Most European companies rely heavily on US-based cloud and digital services, and over half say they would not survive more than a day without access to them. The survey shows that downtime could cost many firms between €50,000 and €100,000 per day. Concerns stem from escalating political friction, including President Trump’s criticism of EU regulations and threats of retaliatory trade measures. Businesses worry that regulatory conflict could lead to US companies being blocked from operating in Europe, triggering a kill switch scenario. As a result, many organizations are seeking sovereign European alternatives, especially for email and cloud storage, though availability still lags behind US hyperscalers. The EU’s Tech Sovereignty Package aims to reduce dependence on foreign providers, and Proton has launched continuity tools to help companies stay operational during outages or geopolitical disruptions.

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